Given their popularity, I expect that tablets will be found underneath a lot of Christmas trees this year, and what a good time for it, since consumers are going to be spoilt for choice. With Amazon and Apple both having unveiled their offerings ready for the holiday spending extravaganza, consumers are faced with a choice, and judging by my mailbox, people are having a hard time making up their minds as to which is the best.
So, let's put Apple's iPad Air up against Amazon's Kindle Fire HDX and see which comes out the winner.
Note that the Kindle Fire HDX comes in two flavors – 7-inch and 8.9-inch – but for the purposes of this review I'll be focusing primarily on the 8.9-inch version.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
Both the iPad Air and the Kindle Fire HDX comes with what is universally known as 'retina' displays, that is, a display where the pixels are so small that at normal viewing distances they cannot be made out.
See also: Gift Guide 2013: Awesome Kindle Fire HDX accessories
Technically, both displays fall into the 'retina' category, which means that at normal viewing distances the pixels will be too small for the human eye to make out. However, the higher pixel density of the Kindle Fire HDX means that you can hold the tablet closer to your face and still get a 'retina' experience.
So, if it's size you want, the iPad Air is for you, but if quality is what you are after, then you should opt for the Kindle Fire HDX.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
At the heart of all tablets is a processor, and while the screen is what we look at, the processor can make or break a device.
This is a tough call. Apple's A7 is undoubtedly a fast processor, and can see to make a dual-core part that can outperform quad-core offerings, but the Snapdragon 800 has more cores to throw at heavy tasks when the going gets hard.
Since I'm convinced that in both cases the processing power is adequate, I'm calling this one a tie.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
Apps, photos, and videos all take up storage space on tablets, so you want enough to hold all of your digital life.
Unless you want 128GB of storage space – and most people don't – then the Kindle Fire HDX is the winner here because Amazon has priced the storage far more reasonably than Apple has.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
Size and weight are a concern when you expect to hold a device for extended periods.
The Kindle Fire HDX is smaller and lighter than the iPad Air, which is to be expected given that it has a smaller screen, but if size and/or weight are a concern, then this is another win for Amazon.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
Down to the dollars and cents.
If the choice is down to price, the Kindle Fire HDX is the clear winner. You can pick up an 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX with 64GB of storage and Wi-Fi plus LTE for less than the cost of a 16GB Wi-Fi plus cellular iPad Air.
Another hands-down win for Amazon.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
Two totally different platforms.
See also: The very best tablets of 2013
To be honest, when it comes down to which app store is best, it is pretty much a matter of personal preference. Apple's App Store is probably the biggest and best curated, but there's nothing wrong with Amazon's offering either. I use both, and while on the whole I fnd that Apple has a better selection of apps, Amazon's it not bad either.
If you're already locked to one ecosystem or another then this might sway you, but otherwise it's not really much of an issue which you happen to choose.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
Wanna take selfies? Want to ditch the dSLR at home but still be able to grab cool shots?
Not much to separate the two here.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
How long can you do things on your tablet before needing to hook up to a power supply?
Despite the iPad Air offering excellent battery life compared to many tablets on the market, Amazon manages to win again.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
Want to glam up your tablet?
If you're looking for a mature ecosystem of accessories to go with your tablet then the iPad Air is the one to go for here.
(Image source: Apple and Amazon)
So, which is the best tablet of the two?
See also: Gift Guide 2013: Awesome Kindle Fire HDX accessories
Personally, I think the Kindle Fire HDX is the better of the two. It's cheaper, lighter, has a better screen, and storage costs are more reasonable if you want something beyond the base 16GB.
The iPad Air is a great tablet, but the Kindle Fire HDX is better.
However, if you want to be with the cool kids then you may still want to go with the iPad Air. It's without a doubt the flagship tablet, instantly recognizable and gives owners access to a huge ecosystem of apps and accessories. If you already own an iPhone or an older iPad, and have made an investment in apps, this may sway you.
Bottom line, both are awesome tablets and you won't be disappointed with either of them.
(Image source: Amazon)